Sir Thomas Fairfax's LETTER TO The Hono ble William Lenthal Esq Speaker to the Honorable House of Commons.
Concerning THE AGREEMENT Between Sir Tho: Fairfax's Commissioners and Sir Ralph Hoptons at Truro in Cornwal.
Together with a true Copy of the Articles, agreed on by both parties.
Which Articles and Letter was brought by Master Peters, and were read in the Honourable House of Commons, 21 Martii, 1645.
APpointed by the Honorable William Lenthal Esq Speaker of the Honorable House of Commons, to be printed and published.
London: Printed for EDW. HUSBAND, Printer to the Honorable House of Commons. March 23. 1645.
TO The Honourable William Lenthal Esq Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons.
WHilest I lay at Bodman for the necessary refreshment of the Army, and to block up the passages from Bodman to the North and South sea, I sent a Summons with Propositions to Sir Ralph Hopton, and the Army under his command: A Copy whereof I have herein inclosed, being encouraged thereunto by some of the enemies Officers and Souldiers, who came into me, and informed of there inclineablenesse to conditions; and hoping thereby either to bring them to such terms as should be to your advantage, or would distract and weaken them; and withal understanding by the intercepted Letters I sent you, that an Irish infantry was ready to be shipt for England, I thought fit to try all means which in probability might break their body of Cavalry upon the place: when I had dispatched these Propositions to the enemy, I advanced [Page 4]upon Monday withal the Army from Bodman towards Truro, Truro being then the enemies head quarters, and to Tregmon where I quartred that night: Sir Ralph Hopton sent a Trumpeter to me with a Letter, desiring to have Commissioners appointed on both sides, to meet at Tresilian-Bridge the next day with power to Treat and conclude, which I assented to: The Treaty accordingly began, the Commissioners meeting about four a clock in the afternoon, and I in the mean time advancing the quarters of the Army to Truro and St. Allan: After some time spent between the Commissioners, this Agreement was made, a copy whereof I have here also inclosed, and in execution thereof this day we began to disband the French Brigade under Col. Lapland: To morrow we proceed with three other Brigades, they having nine in all, and shall endeavour to shorten this work as much as may be. Truly, Sir, this must needs be acknowledged for an admirable mercy from the same gracious hand of providence, that hath hitherto gone along with you, that so considerable a force as this should be so baffled: First at Torrington, and afterwards should put themselves as it were into a net; whereby they were necessitated to take terms to the utter ruine of so great a body of Cavalry, which according to all our information, and the confession of our enemies was not lesse at the time of the Treaty then four thousand five hundred horse: The Articles of Agreement will speak the mercy, and needs no comment; yet I hope I may make this observation upon them, that hereby not onely so great a body of Cavalry is broken, but so many both officers and souldiers disobliged from taking Arms against you, and [Page 5]this is at such a season when a forraign aide so ready as the Earl of Glamorgans Letters sent up formerly (& now sent you) speak at large, the timely freeing of us for other services that remain, with the discouragement put upon the enemies Garrisons in these parts, which we hope will cause them the more speedily to come in, we trust will be good consequences of this work: Its the desire of us all, the praise of all may be returned to God, to whom it is onely due: The reputation of this hath already produced a surrender of Saint Mawes Castle, wherein we found about 13 Guns and good proportion of Ammunition, which place gives you a better interest in Falmouth harbour then the enemy hath; for by the advantage hereof you may bring in shipping without hazzard, which they cannot; It hath also occasioned the coming in of between three hundred and four hundred foot of the enemies with their Arms to me, and given the Countreys such heart against them, That in Peryn (a Town formerly not very well affected) and in Saint Ive they stand upon their guards against the enemy: For further particulars concerning this businesse, I refer you to Master Peters, who since he came into this Country (where he was born) hath very much furthered the service in the bringing of the Country in so freely to the protection of the Parliament. I remain
Truro, March 14. 1645. Articles of Agreement, concluded betwixt Commissary-General Ireton, Colonel John Lambert, Colonel John St. Aubin, Commissary-General Stane, Captain Edward Herle and Richard Dean Comptroler of the Ordnance, Commissioners appointed on the behalf of His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax Knight, General of the Parliaments Army of the one part; and Colonel Charis Goring, Colonel Marcus Trevor, Colonel Thomas Panton, Colonel Jordan Bovil, Sir Richard Prideaux Knight, and Major Goetree, Commissioners appointed on the behalf of the Right Honorable the Lord Hopton, General of His Majesties Army on the other part, as followeth;
1. IT is concluded and agreed, That no person in the Lord Hop [...]ons Army, not formerly by name excepted by the Parliament from pardon, shall be excluded from the priviledge of this Treaty, either as being a forraigner, or for having formerly served the Parliament; but shall equally have the benefit of what shall upon this Treaty be granted to other persons of that quality that they are of in the Army: And for any persons by name excepted by the Parliament, they shall have present liberty (if they desire it) to go beyond [Page 7]Seas, with like recommondation and equipage; at others of like quality; or if they desire to live at home in England, to make their addresses to the Parliament; For that, or other purpose, they shall have leave and reasonable time so to do, and the Generals protection to live quietly, and at liberty in any place they shall nominate and chuse within the Parliaments Quarters, until they have received the Parliaments Resolution; And if the Parliament shall not think fit to grant such their desires, they shall then have leave and Passes to go beyond Sea, as before, or to any of the Kings Armies or Garrisons, as they shall think fit.
2. That the Army and Forces under the command of the Lord Hopton, shall within six dayes after the date hereof, be wholly disbanded and discharged by the Lord Hopton, and the General, Officers, Colonels, and other Officers under his Command, according to the several Charges in manner hereafter expressed.
3. That all common Troopers; Corporals of Horse, Farriers and Saddlers; that are mounted, being of or belonging to the Forces under the Command of the Right Honorable the Lord Hopton, shall bring in and deliver up their Horses, with their Bridles and Saddles, and all their Arms unto his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, or unto whom he shall appoint to receive them; in manner, time and place, as is hereafter exprest; Provided, that all Corporals and such Common Troopers; as shall appear Gentlemen of Worth, and such other Troopers as shall go beyond Sea, shall be allowed to keep, and carry away with them their Swords.
4. That upon performance hereof, they shall receive 20 s. a man, or keep their Horses, and shall have their Passes to go to their homes in England, or beyond Sea with their Bag and Baggage, which they shall have leave to carry with them, or dispose of them as they please; and those to whom Swords are allowed as before, to passe with their Swords.
5. That the Commission-Officers of Horse under the Lord Hopton, for their several Troops respectively, shall cause the said Horses and Arms to be duely delivered in without changes, spoiling or imbezzlement among themselves, according to the effect of the first Article before going.
6. That this being performed, all the said Commission-Officers of Horse in present command, and all Trumpeters belonging to them, [Page 8]shall have liberty to go away, either to their homes in England, or beyond the Seas with their Bag and Baggage: And also, they shall have such number of Horses and Equipage as is hereafter allowed, according to their several qualities: That is to say,
First, For those that shall chuse to go beyond the Seas, the full number of Horses and Fire-Arms, if they have so many of their own.
- To Trumpeters one Horse a peece, and their Trumpets.
- To Quarter-masters, two Horses and one Case of Pistols.
- To Cornets three Horses and two Case of Pistols.
- To Lieutenants four Horses and three Case of Pistols.
- To Captains, Majors and Lieutenant-Colonels, six Horses and four Case of Pistols.
- To Colonels eight Horses and six Case of Pistols.
- To the Adjutant-General six Horses and four Case of Pistols.
- To the other Adjutants of Brigades three Horses a peece, and one Case of Pistols.
- To the Scout-Master-General six Horses and two Case of Pistols.
- To the Quarter-Master-General six Horses and two Case of Pistols.
- To the Marshal-General four Horses and one Case of Pistols.
- To the Deputy Quarter-Master-General two Horses.
- To the Deputy Scout-Master one Horse.
- To the Major-General twelve Horses and six Case of Pistols.
- To the Commissary-General of Horse Provisions three Horses and a Case of Pistols.
- To the Commissary-General of Victuals three Horses one Case of Pistols.
- To Quarter-Masters of Brigades three Horses one Case of Pistols.
- To the Chirurgion-General three Horses.
- To Chirurgions of Regiments two Horses.
- To all these, except Chirurgions, their defensive Arms, and Swords for themselves, and their Servants; and unto every Field-Officer, one Carrabine, and Chirurgions their Swords.
[Page 9] II. To those that shall chuse to abide in England, with the Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax his protection, and to live at home, shall have their proportions as followeth.
- To Quartermasters, one horse a peece.
- To Cornetts and Livetenants, two horses a peece and one case of pistolls.
- To Captaines, three horses a peece and one case of pistolls.
- To Majors, foure horses a peece and one case of pistolls.
- To Livetenant-Collonels, five horses a peece, one case of pistolls.
- To Collonels, sixe horses a peece, and two case of pistolls.
- To the Major Generall, ten horses three case of pistolls.
- To the adjutant Generall, sixe horses one case of pistolls.
- To the adjutant of Brigades, one horse a peece, and one case of pistolls.
- To the Quartermaster Generall sixe horses, and one case of pistolls.
- To the Marshall Generall three horses, and one case of pistolls.
- To the deputy Quartermaster Generall, two horses.
- To the Scout-Master-Generall, foure horses, and one case of pistolls.
- All these to have swords for themselves and their servants.
- To the Commissary of horse provision, two horses and a case of pistolls.
- To the Commissary of victnalls, two horses, and a case of pistolls.
- To the deputy Scouts Master, one horse.
- To the Quatermasters of Brigades, two horses.
- To the Chirurgion Generall two horses.
- To Chirurgions of Regiments, one horse.
- To Chaplaines, two horses.
- All these, except Chaplaines, to have Swords for themselves and their servants.
[Page 10] VII. That the precedent Articles concerning the surrender o [...] Troopers horses, &c. being performed; if any Officer in Command, that chaseth to live at home shall approve to have more horses of his owne, than what hee is before allowed by the last precedent Article, the Commissioners of Sir Thomas Furfax his part will recommand it to his Excellencies favour, That they may enjoy the benefit of such horses of their owne to the same number as Officers of like quality that are to goe beyond Sea.
VIII. That of the Reformadoe Officers that chuse to live at home in England, Reformadoe Quarter Masters shall have the same conditions as Corporalls in Command; Coronetes and Livetenants shall goe away with one horse a peece, Captaines, Majors and Livtenant-Collonels, with two horses a peece, and Collonells with three horses a peece, if they have so many of their owne, and one case of pistolls, those Reformadoes that desire to goe beyond Seat to halfe the proportion of Horses and Armes allowed in that case to Officers of the like quality in present Command if they have them of their owne and all of them to goe with Swords Bagg and Baggage, or dispose thereof at pleasure.
IX. That all Gentlemen of quality in Armes or not in Armes, but living under the protection of the said Army, shall have liberty either to goe to their owne houses, or beyond the Seas, with Bagg and Baggage, and equipage according to their severall qualities, as followeth, That is to say.
- A Knight with foure horses, three servants, one case of pistolls and their swords.
- An Esquire with three horses, two servants, one case of pistolls, and their swords.
- A Gentleman with two horses, one servant, one case of pistolls and their swords.
- A Gentleman of lowest rancke with one horse for himselfe and a sword.
- Schollers and Clergymen to have one horse at the least, or more according to their different degrees, at the Generalls discretion.
X. That to all those who according to the effect of these Articles shall choose to goe beyond the Sea, passes shall be granted from [Page 11]the Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax accordingly, and to those who being English shall choose to live at home, passes for that purpose and protections for their liberty of their persons, and also for the freedom of their estates from all plunder or violence of Souldiers, and that such Gentlemen or others that have considerable estates, may have the Generalls Letters of recommendation to the Parliament (if desired) for their moderate composition.
XI. That after the performance of these Articles so far to disbanding and delivering up of what is to be delivered: All Officers and Souldiers that shall according to these Articles chuse to goe beyond the Seas, shall have sufficent Quarters assigned them by Sir Thomas Fairfax, neere convenient Ports for their transportation, and that they shall have twenty eight dayes allowed to stay in England from the day of their severall disbanding, and that the charge of quartering their horses be discharged by themselves after the first fourteene dayes for the time of their further stay, That the Generall will appoint men to take care that shipping shall be provided for transporting the persons, Armes, Bagg and Baggage, they paying the accustomed rates.
XII. That a certaine number of Officers of the Lord Hoptons Army not exceeding forty, upon the Lord Hoptons Commissioners request shall be permitted to have passes for themselves, and their servants horses and necessaries to goe to Oxford, provided that their servants exceed not the number of two, their horses three, to every one respectively.
XIII. That the Lord Hopton shall be allowed for his owne use all his horses, provided they exceed not the number of forty, and Armes for himselfe and twelve men; And that the Lord Wentworth shall have all his horses, provided they exceed not five and twenty and armes for himselfe and eight men, and places assigned them for conveniency of Quarters.
[Page 12] XIIII. That such english men as shall chuse to abide in England at their homes, and all Forraigners of the said Armie, shall ingage themselves by promise in such forme as is herewith agreed on, not to beare Armes any more against the Parliament of England, nor to act any thing wilfully, prejudiciall to the Parliaments affaires, without first rendring themselves Prisoners to the Parliament; And likewise all such English as shall chuse to goe beyond Sea, shall ingage themselves in the like promise for three yeares next ensuing the date hereof, or otherwise shall lose the benefit of these Articles, excepting the Lord Hopton and Lord Wentworth, and the number of Officers allowed to goe to Oxford, in the twelfth Article before-going, who are by the intention of these Articles left free from such ingagement.
XV. That all Horses, Armes, and furniture of warre belonging to, or in the hands of any person of the said Armie, not allowed in the precedent, or subsequent Articles, to bee carryed away, shall be delivered up to such persons, and at such place neere Truro, or Sir Thomas Fairfax his head-Quarters, as his Excellency shall appoint, within six dayes after the date hereof without faile, or in bezelment; At the care aswell of the Generalls Officers of the said Armie, and all Commanders in their severall charges, as by the persons themselves to whom such Armes or Furniture of warre doe belong, or in whose custody they were.
XVI. That whosoever shall after the conclusion of this Treaty, purposely breake, spoyle, or imbezill any of the Armes, Horses or furniture agreed and concluded to be delivered up in this Treatie, shall forfeit the benefit due unto him by any Article in the Treaty. And if any of the said Armie after the conclusion of this Treaty, shall plunder, or wilfully doe any violence unto any Inhabitants of the Country, they shall give satisfaction unto the persons so wronged, or lose the benefit of the Treaty, And that the Commissioners of both parties, or [Page 13]any three of them, whereof one or more to bee of Sir Thomas Fairfax his partie, and one or more to bee of the Lord Hoptons, shall have power to heare and determine all such cases accordingly.
XVII. That the said Armie and Forces under the command of the Lord Hopton; from the time of the Conclusion of this Treaty, untill the time of their drawing out to bee disbanded, as in the ensuing Articles, shall bee quartered in such places Westward from Truro as Sir Thomas Fairfax shall appoint, which shall be large enough for their accommodation, and that the Cessation of Armes, and of all acts of hostility betwixt the two Armies, shall continue unto the time of the compleat disbanding of the Lord Hoptons Armie.
XVIII. That for the disbanding of the said Forces, and delivering up of Horses, Armes, &c. In performance of the precedent Articles. Every Brigade and Regiment under the Lord Hoptons command, shall by their respective Commanders be drawne out into such places of Rendezvous, within two miles of Truro, or Sir Thomas Fairfax his head-Quarters, And upon such dayes as Sir, Thomas Fairfax shall for them joyntly or severally appoint notice of the time and place being given to his Excellencie in writing sixteene houres before-hand, under the Commissioners of the Lord Hoptons partie, or any of them, two or more of whom shall for that and other purposes continue at Sir Thomas Fairfax his head Quarters, untill the disbanding bee finished, and that the Quarter-master Generall, or Adjutant of the Lord Hoptons with one horseman from every Brigade, shall also bee there with them, and that none of the said Brigades or Regiments shall bee drawne out of their Quarters, (which shall be assigned to them as afore) otherwise then upon, and according to such notice from Sir Thomas Fairfax as before, except to and for their ordinary Guards.
[Page 14] XIX. That to or before the drawing out of the severall Brigades or Regiments such Randezvouz as before: The chiefe Commanders of them respectively shall deliver unto whom Sir Thomas Fairfax shall appoint, a true and perfect list of the Regiments and Troopes in the severall Brigades, and of all Officers and Souldiers in their severall Troopes, expressing by name which of them doe choose to goe beyond Sea, and which doe goe to live at home; Or also, who are Reformadoes, and in what degree of command they have served in, and that at the same times and places, the Horses, Armes, and Furniture, by vertue of the precedent Articles to bee delivered up, shall bee delivered accordingly: And all the Officers and Souldiers disbanded and discharged, and there shall receive their Passes with Warrants for quarters by the way for one night in a place, and bee conveyed towards their severall homes, as farre as Chard, if they goe so farre, or unto Quarters assigned them for their transportation according to the preceding Articles.
That for the further peformance of these Articles, two Collonels of each Armie shall be mutually delivered and kept as Hostages.
- H. Ireton.
- Jo. Lambert.
- Io. S. Aubin.
- William Stane.
- Edward Herle.
- Richard Deane.
- Charles Goring.
- Marcus Irevor.
- Thomas Panton.
- Iordan Bovill.
- Richard Prideaux.
- Iean. Goteere.